President urges military to boost professionalism

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CILEGON -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the soldiers of the Indonesian Military to continue to improve their abilities and professionalism to maintain Indonesia's sovereignty.

"I urge all Indonesian Military soldiers to constantly improve their abilities, professionalism, and readiness to handle every condition in any area," Jokowi stated here on Monday.

He delivered a speech during the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Indonesian Military at the Indah Kiat Beach, Cilegon.

The president also urged the soldiers to maintain solidarity and integrity of the Indonesian Military.

"I hope the Indonesian Military can maintain togetherness with the people as their power is the power of the military," the president emphasized, adding that the soldiers must honor Sapta Marga regulation and the oath.

The Indonesian Military's 70th anniversary celebrations highlighted the theme "the togetherness between soldiers and people makes the military stronger to achieve a sovereign, independent, and emphatic Indonesia."

Army, Air Force, and Navy soldiers of the Indonesian Military along with military vehicles were part of the commemoration.

At least three thousand soldiers from the Indonesian Military and civil servants were part of the parade during the ceremony.

The participants attending the event can get a firsthand glimpse of some of the Indonesian weaponry systems, such as tanks, panzers, mobile howitzers, and the KRI Oswald Siahaan warship.